Dear Catholic Exchange:
A Catholic priest told me God has created everything (the sky, birds, trees, and so one), so everything else is up to us now. This priest says that there in no point asking God for anything, because He already gave us everything. And he gave us “free will” too, so He will not act on our lives in respect to that.
In my opinion, though, this goes totally against the Sacred Scriptures (Mark 11:24; Matthew 6:6; Matthew 7:7; John 14:13-14). I believe God can act and He does act in our lives upon our requests. I also believe He does change facts and situations when we pray, at His will.
I would appreciate your comments on this matter.
Marcos
Dear Marcos,
Peace in Christ! God has instructed us to pray for the things we need and for others. The Church follows this mandate in her teaching and in practice.
Basing herself on the Scriptures, the Catholic Church affirms that God did create all things. He gave “beginning to all things outside of Himself” and all creation depends upon Him (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 290). The Church also affirms that God has given man free will and will not impose upon it (cf. Catechism, no. 1730-1742). However, this does not mean that the Church does not believe in the necessity or efficacy of prayer.
The fourth part of the Catechism (available at most bookstores) is devoted entirely to prayer. The Catechism defines prayer as “the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God” (no. 2559, quoting St. John Damascus), and as “a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ” (no. 2564). In discussing prayers of petition (asking God for things in prayer) the Church states:
When we share in God's saving love, we understand that every need can become the object of petition. Christ, who assumed all things in order to redeem all things, is glorified by what we ask the Father in his name” (Catechism no. 2633).
The Church practices this teaching daily. In Mass we have the “Prayers of the Faithful” or Intercessions. The Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church, includes petitions with every prayer. In fact, every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer, which Christ Himself gave us, we petition God seven times.
God does act in our lives according to His will. However, this acting still needs a free-will response. As discussed in our FAITH FACT Chosen in Him: The Catholic Teaching on Predestination, free will and God’s providence are not opposed.
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